Gulf of Patras

The Gulf of Patras opens onto the Ionian Sea between the northern shore of the Peloponnese and the coast of western Greece. At its eastern end, the narrow passage between Rio and Antirrio leads into the Gulf of Corinth. On 7 October 1571, the waters near the gulf's entrance witnessed the Battle of Lepanto. A Holy League fleet commanded by Don John of Austria met the Ottoman fleet under Ali Pasha; the allied ships, including Venetian, Spanish and papal vessels, won a major victory.